While strolling along the Karakoy waterfront, in one of the most captivating historic districts of the city, where the Bosporus and the Golden Horn meet, attention is drawn to an architecture characterised by lightness and elegance: the Istanbul Modern. Harmoniously engaging with the surrounding landscape, bridging the gap between land and sea, Istanbul Modern is Turkey’s first museum of modern and contemporary art. Immediately, it has become a landmark for the city and the international art world, a place for gatherings and discussions driven by the curiosity to embrace the world of beauty and art.
Originally established in 2004 within a former government customs warehouse, the Istanbul Modern takes on a new identity through the visionary design of Renzo Piano, renowned architect and founder of the Renzo Piano Building Workshop. This transformation, in collaboration with Arup, marks a significant milestone as the first architectural realisation by the Genoese studio in Turkey.
The museum's architectural setting is beautifully framed by the landscape, with the Bosporus and the Ottoman-era buildings taking center stage. This captivating scenery also extends within the museum's interior, which spreads over an area of 10,500 sqm across 5 levels.
Huge glass windows, in fact, allow visitors to immerse themselves in a seemingly borderless space, where the view, while walking through the galleries, extends beyond the architectural constraints.
Following the principles of versatility and hospitality, which resonate with the essence of Istanbul Modern, the indoor spaces, and more, are meticulously designed to host temporary art and photography exhibitions, film screenings, conferences, a library, a restaurant, as well as educational programs for both adults and children. Snow Junior, designed by Odo Fioravanti, finds its perfect place within a room dedicated to educational workshops for children. The playful shape, the adaptability to both external and internal environments and stackability characterise this version of Snow. It has been designed for the world of the youngest visitors, aligning with the museum's commitment to making art accessible to audiences of all ages. Selected in a yellow hue, inherently symbolising positivity, energy, and optimism, Snow Junior is made of polypropylene charged with glass fibers and injection molded using gas air molding technology, which makes it solid and light at the same time.
Beyond indoor spaces, the Istanbul Modern bestows upon the city a unique 650 sqm panoramic terrace, which, like a floating platform, seemingly hovers over a crystalline body of water. At certain times of the day, the reflection of the city's landmarks on this water surface amazes visitors, leaving them speechless. Here, on the museum's top floor, Pedrali products enhance the space, allowing visitors to savor the panoramic view while indulging in the comfort of Nolita and Tribeca, both designed by CMP Design. Nolita is a family of outdoor seatings which recalls the origins of a historic course started by Mario Pedrali in 1963 with his first metal garden chairs. Additionally, Tribeca is a modern reinterpretation of classic Sixties patio chairs made of steel and woven material. The combination of these products recalls the colors of the sea and sky, which are prominent in the surrounding scenery. Where these elements meet, they create a gentle gradient from shades of blue to white, a color scheme carefully selected for Nolita and Tribeca, respectively.
Fluxo coffee tables by Luca Casini complete the area. Characterised by primary geometric shapes, starting from section of its stem-like base, these tables generate a form with clean and minimalist lines.
Beauty, tradition and innovation have always been the guiding principles behind Pedrali's choices, and they find their ultimate expression in the Istanbul Modern project.